Mold-stripping apparatus



May 29, 19,28.

T. MIDGLEY MOLD STRIPPINCT APPARATUS l. t T .N @w n S W M S O l.. w

5 l .m w m HN e .W4 m AN A J \Q )Hb d e 1 N. m A MN i l l KW HUKNHH A w FMI lib ,.N. Mn/wokw RAV# A La@ Nswzh May 29, 1928.

T. MIDGLEY MOLD STRIPPING APPARATUS Filed June 29, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 279, 1 928.

UNTTED STATES Application led June 29, 1925.

rl`his invention relates to apparatus for opening molds in which tire casing'sv have been vulcanized, and for stripping the tires therefrom. It has for its object a machine of this general character which will perform rapidly the necessary operations on a tire mold and which will yrequire no complexity of parts. It has for a particular object the provision of an apparatus which will strip a tire from the mold `by a tilting,r action as distinguished trema straight pull. Other and further objects will appear from the description and claims. While the apparatus has been shown as especially adapted to a hinged sheet metal mold, and finds particular applicability in such use, it is not limited to molds of this type.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus adapted for opening and stripping mo ds during' their travell on a trackway from one heater to another;

Fig. 2 is a side elevationthereot';

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the two operating valves, showing their relative positions in one stage of the operation of the device;

Figs. 4 to of the valves 6 are similar views at other sta-ges;

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of the apparatus, showing a mold ready for the in. itiation ot' the stripping operation;

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the action of the clamps;

Fig. 9 is a Similar .what larger section of the device. and ing the top half of the mold stripped the tire;

Fig'. 10 is a detail of a control Jfor the operating valves:

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the apparatus, certain parts being broken away;

Fig. 12 is al view similar to showing the tire stripped from the half of themold; l

Fig. 13 is a similar view showing the removal of the vulcanizedtire and the placing of an uncured tire in the mold; and

Fig. 14 is a detail elevation taken on line 14-14 of Fig. 11.

The .apparatus drawings as mounted between ing heaters of the usual type comprising a ram 20 mounted for vertical movement in a view, showing a someshowfrom bottom has been Shown in the two vulcanizthrough slots y is moved toward the let in the iguresby Fig. 7. but- MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE FISK RUBBER.- MASSACHUSETTS, 'A (l0BI'PQB'A'JION 0F MASS- MoLD-s'rmrrme APPARATUS.

Serial No. A140,250.

casing 21. Connecting the casings of the heater are tracks 22 upon which the molds may be slid in passing'from one heater to the other. `Located under-these tracks are two spaced pressure cylinders 23 and 24.

these, the molds 25 are for stripping. All the mechanism to be escribed'has an inactive position below the level of the tracks. so that there will lbe no interference with the travel of the molds as they are slid into and out of strippingposition. During the operation of the device, however, the molds are held firmly in position by certain' gripping devices.

At one side of the .mold as it rests on the track above cylinder 23 are a pair'of grippers 26 (Figs. 1, 7, and 11), both fixed to a common sha-tt 27 pivoted in the tracks 22. These grippers have'recesses 28 adapted to receive the lower outer flange 29 of the mold when they are swung upwardly as in Fig. 8, and have a weighted portion 30 which causes them to return to the position of Fi g. 7 when the elevating force is removed. Elevation of these grippers is accomplished by a pin 31 mounted on a sliding of the tracks 22 by headed pins 33 passmg 34 in the bar. When this bar mechanism to be described the pin 31 strikes against the edge of the weighted portion 30 of one of the grippers, and rocks it into the osit'ion o Fig. 8. Since both grippers are fixed to shaft 27 they will move simultaneously. gripping the Hange 29 of the mold at spacedpoints. e

Another gripper for holding iinnge 29 is shown at 35, this being pivoted to ashort shaft 36 mounted in a recess in a bar 37 extending between the tracks. This gripper has a portion 38 adapted to overliethe Harige 29. and is curved -on .its rear side. to {it the side ot piston rod 39 of cylinder 24..\ As inthe case of grippers 26, the gripper 35 is so balanced that it will turn to the iuactive positionpof Fig. 7 unless it is posi-` tively held upright. The holding force in this case is exerted by the piston rod 39, which. as it rises from the position of Fig. 7 to that of Fig. 8, bears directly against the gripper 35 to raise it.

Durjng this same motion of piston rod39 it tilts-anarm 40 which, in rtherelation of bar 32 held to one ,On the tracks directly above the former of. 00

placed successively lol parts shown in Fig. 7, rests on its top, and raises it to the position shown in Fig. 8. This arm is xed on a shaft 41 which carries at its end a crank 42 (Fig. 11) joined by a link 43 with bar 32 previously referred to as the operating means for grippers 26. As the piston rod 39 rises the arm 40 1s tilted from the position of Figs.l 7 and 11 -to that of l4`ig. 8, causing the bar 32 to be 10 moved to the left as viewed in the drawings (compare Figs. 7 and 8). The operation of grippers 26 and 35 is thus accomplished substantially simultaneously. To rock the shaft 41 in the opposite direction during the lowering of rod 39, the latter has fixed to it on one side va laterally projecting pin 44 which contacts with a second arm 45 on shaft 41. Some means of insuring that the'piston rod will stay in alignment, thereby keeping pin 44 in registry with the end of arm 45, is preferably provided. In the case shown this is accomplished by afsecond pin 46 (Fig. 14), on the opposite side of the rod from pin 44, which as the rod descends enters a V-shaped notch in an abutment 47. The piston rod is by this means centered at the completion of each stroke.

' In the case shownv the beadsl of the tire are held during vulcanization by a. pair of bead rings 48. which are of the usual type having inwardly projecting flanges 49. Provision has been made for gripping this de` vice in order to hold the tire in the lower half of the `mold while the upper half is being forced away. With tires of certain patterns there may be a natural tendency to remain in one half sutlicient to permit the omission of special gripping devices for compelling it so to remain. In such eases the mechanismA to be described may not be l needed, but'it is preferably provided as t-ires not of this type may be dealt with. .l

. The grippers for holding the bead rings are of the same general type as grippers 26.

They are carried in slots 50in a plateY 51 mounted on the to ofthe piston rod 52 associated withcy inder I23. They have hook-like portions 53 andare weighted at 54 so thatn they tend by gravity to assume the position in which the are shown in Fig.

7. To move them from t is position to cause them to `grip the flanges of the bead rings, pins 55 and 56 are provided, the former be- Aing mounted on bar 32 previously referredA to, and the latter on a-bar 57 (Fig..11) simi- 'il lar to it butmounted by headed pins 58 on the o posite track.- Bars 32 and 57 are connecte together for-simultaneous longitudinal motion in opposite directions by a lever 00 59 pivoted at lts center to a cross-bar 60, and fitting at its'ends into notches 61 cut in the bars. The relative inotion of pins 55 and 56, and their effect on the grippersnvill -be seen from a 'comparison 'of Figs. 7 and l5 8. This motion is' accomplished bythe upward motion of p-iston 'rod 39 as previously mentioned.

Further upward motion of piston rod 39 causes its end to strike a lug 62 (Fig. 9) on the upper half of the mold, tilting the latter upwardly and stripping itA from the tire. The two halves of the mold are preferably hinged together at 63, but this is for convenience only and the apparatus will operate with molds of other designs. From the full line position of Fig. 9 the upper mold half is turnedby hand intothe dotted line position, where it rests against a cross-bar 64; or, in case an unhinged'mold is used, the upper half is removed. In either case it is moved out of the way of succeeding stripv pin gv operations. l

The next action ot' the apparatus isthe stripping of the tirefrom the lower mold half. In the performance of this function the piston rod 52 is caused to rise. In so doing it lifts the weighted portions 54 of the bead ring grippers otl' from the pins 55 and 56, which remain stationary. The hooked portions 53 are by the same motion raised 90 v clear of the bead rings, so that the grippers are automatically returned to inactive position by gravity. Further upward motion of the piston rod causes pins 65 (Fig. 12) on the plate 51 to contact with the bead ring 95 on one side. VThe other side of the pla-te is made of lessradius so as to clear the bead ring, and the latter, together with the tire,

is thereby tilted upwardly, preferably but not necessarily in the opposite direction from the tilt given to the upper mold half in ris- A ing; The tire is pulled entirely clear of the mold by this operation, and may be carried away on a suitable hook 66, while a fresh tire 67 is placed in the mold after lowering 105 the two piston rods. On closing the mold it may be slid along the tracks to the heater-VW being loaded, it being completely freedl of` all restraint by the grippers onthe descent of the pistons. A rod 68 keeps the plate 51l y1'10 in proper alignment during its travel.

The machine has now been completely described with the enception of the control dc-v4 vices, and the means for raising and lowering the 'pistonrodsf While these have been de- 11,5 scribed in terms of fluid pressure devices it will be-obvious that other motive power may be Vemployed if desired. 'Control mech"- anism, however, will be described for the being preferred as lcombining simplicity with avoidance of breakage in case of undue sticking of-the tire or other accidental interference with the operation. Each pistonrod had a piston 69 (Fig. 9) of the usual type, 125 runnin freely in its cylinder and packed -in the ordinary manner. From-the to of cyl-` inders 23 land 24p'pes 70 (Fi 11 lead to the p orts T (Fig. 3) of valvesl 1 and 72 reuid pressure type of operating means. this '12o spectively. Pipes 73 fromV the bottom ofthe lla I a ratcheted rllhis raises piston v all the grippingdevices and then stripping desired through a port E. The'valves 'signed to couple together simultaneously valves are connected positions each.

annular molds,

the lower halt of the -inold'by a tilting motion 1in the vopposite direction.

3. ln a device for stripping. tires from circumferentially split annular molds, a pair of-spaced movable members, one of which ijs Aadapted to engage theinner eriphery ot the tire `and the other of which is 4adapted to engage the outer periphery Ahalt ot the mold, means for holding the lower mold half in a position' encircling the first-named member, and'means for moving said members successively. 4f. In a device tor stripping tires from so that they always rocircumferentially split annular molds, a shat'ts being joined by pairl ot spaced movable members, one of (Fig.'l0) coacting with which is adapted to engage the inner pea stationary pawl 76 andv havinga handripheiy of the tire and the wheel or spokes 77 (Fig. 1l). The eight to engage the outer periphery of the upper teeth on the ratchet divide the rotation of. halt of the mold, ineai'is for holding the the valves into two complete cycles of four ln the first position (Fig. 3) the valve 71 is admittingair to the top oit cylinder 23 and lexhz'iusting air from its bottom.A Valve 72 is closed. rl`he position of parts corresponding to the valve setting of Fig. 3 is that ot Fig. 7, where the-mechanism is entirely inactiv'e.- The irst active step is accomplished by rotating the valves to the position of Fig. 4, in which air is introduced of cylinder 2t through valve 72, valve 7l being closed. rod 39 through the position of lFig. 8 to that ot Fig. 9, first setting B iii these valves'. brought to ports 1 74, .while air is perthe cylinders whn d 1 and 7 2 are ot' the-usual four-port type, in which the rotating part of the valve is decylinders lead .to ports Air under pressure is of the valves by a pipe initted to esca-pe from two pairs of adjacent ports.

'llhe operation of the valves is shown inl Figs. 3 to 6, representing a complete cycle ot the machine, performed in ahalt revolution of the valves. Preferably thev two tate together, their hub 75 lcling the :first-named member, means for holding the tire to the lower halt of the inold'until alterl the actuation of the secondvnamedA member, and means for moving the members successively. y

5'. ln a device for stripping tires from circiimterentially split annular'. molds, a pair ot spaced pneumatic cylinders, .pistons and piston rods in each. means to support a mold coaxially with one oi' thecylinders and in position to have the outer periphery ot its upper halt4 in the path of the piston rod of the second cylinder, gripping devices actnable by the motion ot the piston rod or' the second cylinder or holding the lower halt of the mold, and additional gripping devices actuable by the motion ot the piston rod of thesecond cylinder for holding the tire in the lower halt of the mold and releasable by o the `top half of the mold. The second step is accomplished by a further one-eighth'revolutioii ot the valves, as indicated in Fig. 5. rthis shuts off `valve 72, leaving the piston rod 39 held in its upper position, an admits air under the piston in cylinder 23. The consequent elevation of piston rod 52 first releases the bead ring grippers and then forces the tire out of the lower mold half. The next two valve actuations, shown in Figs. 6 and 3, simply restore the ,parts to the inactive position of Fig. 7

Having thus described claim:

l. ln a device for stripping tires from annular molds, means for holding the lower part ot the mold, means for holding the tire, and means acting at one side of the outer periphery of the upper part on the mold for forcing it away from the tire with a tilting motion.

2. lln a the motion ot the piston rod the first cylinder, the piston rod of the ii cylindercarrying an abutment` adapted .to contact with the inner periphery of the tire and push it from the lower half ot the mold. (i. ln a. device Jfor stripping v circumterentially split annular molds, a pair of spaced pneumatic cylinders, pistons an piston rods in each, coaxially with one of the cylinders n osition to have the outer periphery of its upper halt in the path of the piston rod o the second cylinder, gripping'devices actuable by the motion ot the `piston rod of the second cylinder for holding the lower halt of the mold, the piston rod of the {irst cylinder carrying an abutment adapted'to con-A tact with the inner periphery ot the tire and push it from the h T OMAS my invention, l

device for stripping tires from means for stripping one part ot the mold from the tire by a tilting motion, and means for stripping the tire fromother is adaptedlower half ot the mold in a' position encir tires from of the upper 

